Draft gear



lApril 26, 1932. M ALMA ETAL DRAFT GEAR Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFI-lcs MAXIMILIAN ALMA AND CARL EGON ALMA, F VIENNA, AUSTRIA; LYDIA ALMA AIDIIIIIllNIS'IRAIRIXl 0F SAID MAXIMILIAN ALMA, DECEASED DRAFT GEAR Application led .Tune 5, 41928, Serial No. 283,084, and in .Austria May 19, 1928.

This invention relates to yielding devices for absorbing stresses and pertains more especially to devices ofvthis character suitable for use in connection with the draft gear of railway cars for resiliently connecting such draft gear to the car and for yieldably connecting together the sections. of an elastic draft gear.

An object of this invention is a compact yieldable device composed of parallel springs and in which operation is unaffected by variations in the characteristics of the different springs.

According to this invention, two or more springs are arranged in alignment, each spring being interposed between a pair of reciprocally mounted seats. The corresponding seats of the pairs are in abutting relationship so that movement of such seats to- 2o ward each other is prevented. The end seats of the series are normally held in engagement with abutments by the extensive force of the springs and positive means are provided to effect movement of either end seat away from this abutment and toward the other end seat, thereby effecting compression of the springs by relative movement of the seats for each spring.

This arrangement provides a yielding de- !0 vice which is of not much greater width than the diameter of a single spring and variation in the characteristics of the springs does not affect. operation of the device, since the springs have a common axis and their effort i5 is applied concentrically. Also, this arrangement permits of the use of a single compression member for two or more springs and a minimum number of abutments so that the springs may be arranged very closely to each other, thus resulting in an essential saving in space in the longitudinal direction.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying 5 drawings, wherein:

. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through one embodiment of the invention with the springs in normal position.

Fig. l-a is a corresponding section with the springs substantially compressed.

Fig. l-b is a section on the line A-B of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive are longitudinal sections through modiiied embodiments of the invention.

Yielding devices embodying this invention are well adapted for use in connection with lcontinuous elastic draft gear for railway vehicles, and although not limited to such use are herein disclosed in their application to such draft gears.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 1, l-a, and 1-5, Q1 and w designate the longitudinal central sills of a railway car by means of which is supported the slidable rod g5 1, on which are mounted spaced nuts or the like 2 and 3. On the sills are provided spaced abutments a and b in which are reciprocally mounted guide rods 4 and 6 having enlarged integral portions 5 and 7. The rods 4 and 6 7o are provided with nuts 8, 9, 10 and 11. Spiral springs 12 and 13 surround the rod 1, and are interposed between seats or followers 14 and 15 and 16 and 17 respectively, through which extend the guide rods 4 and 6. lThe 75 follower 15 is slidable on the enlarged portions 5 of the rods 4 and bears against the shoulders formed by the enlarged portions 7 of the rods 6. The follower 16 is slidable lon the enlarged portions 7 of the rods 6 and 80 bears against the shoulders formed by the enlarged portions 5 of the rods 4. The ends of the rods on which the nuts 8 and 10 are provided extend beyond the abutments and these nuts serve to limit the extent of compression of the springs 12 and 13.

Assume a pull to the right onthe rod 1' or a buff from the left. The nut 2 will cause the follower 14 to move to the right which, in turn, will cause corresponding movement r in ; -Mojf the fonowrfeflh I gh helmedium f the enlarged portions '.ofgthe guide rods 4 j '-*l i which will also moveto the right. The `fols Alower will be held -against movement by 5 the enla ed portions' 7 of the rods 6. Bef causeofrte fact that one'set ofcorresponding seats is moved relative tothe lremaining seats, the springs are effectively in parallel A presses against the abutmentsfb and the force resiliently 'applied to the sills through these '.15'. abutment-sis eifective to .cause movement of the carin the directionI of pull on the draft' When the springsl 12 and 13 are compressed suicient to bring the nuts 8 into contact with the abutments a,- force is transmit- .Y 2 ted directlyto. sills.='.. It is apparent that onA pull tothe leftgor buff from thepright the action will be just reversed..- A

vention as used in connection with anv elastic "tudinal sills o and fw" are provided with abutments c and d and guides g. Two draft and bulling rods 101 and 102 extend into a conand threaded on their ends.. A plate 18 is carried by the rod 102 and is arranged between the .connector 22 and a nut 21 threaded respectively the followers 15 and 16. Thel follower 16 is engaged by the ends of the sleeves 105, while the follower 15 is engaged by the ends of the sleeves 107. A sleeve 103 surrounds the rod 101 and is interposed between the'head 19 and the follower 17. A spring surrounds the draft bar 101 and is interposed between followers 26 and 27 which engage the abutments c and d. Nuts l23 and 24 are provided on the rod 101 to engage these followers to move either of them toward the abutments for the other one. p A pull to the right on rod 102 is resilient- .0 lycommunicated to the rod 101 through the plate 18, nuts 109 and 110, rods 104 and 106, nuts 108 and 111, followers 14 and 16, springs 12 and 13,V followers 15 and 17 and sleeve 103 the springs acting in parallel by" reason 5 of the sleeves 105 and 107. A pull to the left whereu Fig. 2 discloses a modification the in-l draft gear comprising a pairv of draft rodsjoined by a sleeve or. the like. The longinector 22 and Aare provided with heads 19l ed on the rod. Rods 104 and 106 extendowers 14 and 15 is arranged the on rod 101 is communicated to the rod 102 through the same elements but in the reverse order. The s rings 12 and 13 are compressed until .the hea 19 engages the connector 22 tween' t nector. v

A buff or' push mi the rod '102 'to the la lowers 16 and14 and the nut 2,.the springs acting in parallel by reason of the sleeves' 105 and 107. The sprin 12 and A13 are vcompressed until the hea s 19 and 20 come into contact whereupon force is transmitted( f directly from the rod 102 to the rod 101. l A; M

bull or push on the rod 1011to theright isf vresiliently transmitted to the rod 102 through' elements but the reverse direc-' the same tion.

ted to the longitudinal sills lv and w, through the nuts 23 and 24, followers 26 and 27, spring 'f1-ri'.-

25 and the abutments c and d.

,In the modification disclosed in Fig. 3', the

109.` Followers 14, 15, 16 and 17 are slidably mounted .on the draft rod '1 and springs 12 and 13'are arranged respectively 'between followers 14 and 15 and followers 16 and 17. Sleeves 105 are slidably mounted on the rods 104 and on these sleeves is slidably mounted the followerl. The follower 16 is enga ed by the ends of the sleeves 105 and is slidaly n force is transmitted directly loee'rods 101 and throughthe con`-A` l i A pullor push lon the rod 101 istransmitlongitudinal sills 'e and w are provided with l I, A abutments aand b between which extend fv f guide rods 104 provided with nuts 108 andl loo u mounted on a sleeve 207 which is mounted v on the rod 1 and vhas its ends bearin against y thel follower 15 and the follower 1 Nuts 2 and 3 are provided on the draft rod 1 for effecting movement of the end followers. A pull to the ri ht on therod 1 eiects movement of the fllower 14 through the medium of the nut 2. The follower 14 acting through the sleeves causes movement to the right of the follower 16, the followerl being prevented from moving b the sleeve 207. Reverse movement of the ro 1 causes movement of the followers 17 and 15, the follower 15 bein moved by the follower 17 through the me ium of the sleeve 207, while the follower 16 is prevented from moving by the sleeves 105. l

' Fig. 4 discloses a modification in which the three springs are mounted for operation in parallel. The longitudinal sills o and w are provided with abutments a and b. Followno l and 111. The guide rods pass through the followers which are provided with sleeves 39 and 41 oflarge outside diameter and l Y support the followers 34 and 37. The sleeves 38 and 40 abut the sleeves 39 and 41 as well as, the followers 34 and 3 7 and slidably support i the followers 35 and 36. Springs 31,32. and:

I 33 -are interposed respectively between followers 14 and 34, 35 and 36, and 37 and 17.

Sleeves 42 may be provided for limiting the extent of compression of the springs.

A. pull to the right or bui from theleft on i the rod 1 causes the followers 14, 35 and 37 to Treo move in unison by reason of the nut 2 and of the sleeves 39 and 38, the followers 34, 36 and 17 being held against movement by the sleeves 40 and 41 and the abutments b. Engagement of the follower 37 with the sleeves 42 limits the compression of the springs. Up to the time that the follower 37 engages the sleeve 42` stresses are transmitted resiliently .l to the abutment b, but after such engagement such stresses are transmitted rigidly. In case of builing from the right or pull to the left, the operation is just reversed.

It is, of course, understood that various departures may be made from the structure. 'above described, without in; any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is: 1. In a device of the character described, a draw bar rod, pairs of spring seats slidably supported by said draw bar rod, springs interposed between the seats of each pair, abutments for the end seats to limit their lmovement away from each other, means on said draw bar rod to move either end sezit toward the abutment for the other end seat, rods passing through said seats, and-means on said rods movable relative to said abutments for preventing diminution of the distance between corresponding seats of said pairs.

2. In a device of the character described, a draw bar rod, pairs of spring seats slidably supported by said draw bar rod, springs interposed between the seats of each pair, abutments for the end seats to limit their movement away from each other, means on said draw bar rod to move either end seat toward the abutment for the other end seat, rods eX- tending between said abutments and passing through said seats, and sleeves on said rods for preventing diminution of the distance between corresponding seats of said pairs.

3. A device of the character described comprising a draw bar, pairs of spring seats slidably supported by said draw bar, springs interposed between each pair of seats, abutments engageable by the endseats to limit movement thereof away from each other, means on said draw bar to move either end seat toward the abutment for the other end seat, guide rods extending between said abutments and passing through apertures in said seats and means on said rods movable rela tive to said abutments for transmitting stresses between corresponding seats and preventing diminution of the distance therebel tween.

4. In a device ofthe character described a pair of d raw bars, a connector joining the` ends of said bars andpermitting limited relative movement thereof, a pair of abutments on one of said bars, a pair of springs mounted on said bar in tandem between said abutments', a pair of seats for each spring, said seats being slidably mounted on said bar, one end seat being engageable by one of said abutments and the other end seat being engage- 'able both by the other abutment and the connector, rods extending through said seats and means on said rods for transmitting stresses between corresponding seats without diminution of the distance therebetween.

5. In a device of the character described a pair of draw bars, a connector joining the ends of said bars and permitting limited relative movement thereof, a pair of abutments on one of said bars, a pair of springs mounted `on said bar in tandem between said abutments, a pair of seats for each spring, said seats being slidably mounted on said bar,

gageable both by the other abutment and the connector, a plate rigid with said connector,

tie-rods connecting said plate-and the first` mentioned end seat and extending through the remaining seats and means on said rods for transmitting stresses between corresponding seats without diminution of the distance between the same.

6. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a draw bar reciprocall mounted therein, pairs of spring seats sli ably supported by said draw bar, springs interposed between each pair of seats, abutments on said frame engageable by the end seats to limit movement thereofaway from each other, means on said draw bar to move either end seat toward the abutment for the other end seat, guide rods extending between .said abutments and passing through apertures in said seats and means on said rods Amovable relative to said abutments for transmitting stresses between corresponding seats without diminution of the distance between the same.

7. In a device of the character described,

frame, a pair of draw bars reciprocally mounted therein, a connector Joining the ends on said bars in tandem between said abutments, a pair of seats for each spring, said iis seats being slidably mounted on said bar, one D end seat being engageable by one of said abutments and the other end' seat being engag-cable both by the other abutment and the connector, a plate rigid with said connector, tie-rods connecting said plate and the first *mentioned end seat and extending through the remaining seats, means on said rods for transmitting stresses between corresponding seats without diminution of the distance between the same and an abutment on said frame engageable by said second mentioned end` seat. Y 4

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

MAXIMILIAN ALMA. CARL EGON ALMA. 

